By Pat Lawrence
Kelly George |
Kelly George graduated from Marshall as a scholar, but has since
taken a Master’s degree in friendship and a PhD in community
service. The Charleston native is serving her first term as the District
Governor of Pilot International, a humanitarian, volunteer service
organization that focuses on programs and education regarding brain
related disorders and disabilities. The Pilot International Foundation
has awarded over a million dollars in grants assisting Pilot club
communities and providing scholarships for individuals pursuing careers
in research, medicine and therapy for brain disorders and disabilities.
The United States has 424 clubs in 20 districts. Kelly has 16 clubs
in her district, with memberships ranging from 20-70.
Kelly says, “Pilot members take an active part in making communities
a better place to live ... today and tomorrow. Our service focus is
brain-related disorders, like Alzheimer's, chemical dependency and
traumatic brain injuries. Pilot Clubs raise thousands of dollars and
donate countless hours of volunteer service to support programs associated
with this focus, often working with other organizations like the Alzheimer's
Association. Pilot also sponsors projects that promote community safety
and security.”
Kelly has been a Pilot in the Greater Kanawha Valley chapter for
18 years, where she serves as parliamentarian and first vice president.
She’s been chairman of their major fundraising activity, holiday
gift wrapping at Town Center, for the past ten years.
In addition, Kelly has been an active member of the GFWC Woman’s
Club in Charleston for over 20 years, a past president who has served
at the state level and is the state project chair for the Anna Jarvis
Home, named after the woman credited with creating Mother’s
Day.
A mother of five, Kelly is deeply committed to her family and faith.
She was selected West Virginia’s Mother of the year in 1994.
She remains active in and is past president of the WV Organization
of American Mothers. Kelly is the current legislative chairman and
past president of the WV Council of Catholic Women. She was honored
to be a recipient of the Bishop’s Cross.
Kelly has been previously been named a Distinguished West Virginian,
WV Humanitarian of the Year and WV Citizen of the year. In 2002, she
received the Governor’s “Woman of Achievement Award”.
She serves on the state board of the WV Garden Clubs and is a volunteer
Master Gardener. She is on the board of the Symphony League and is
chairing a winter event, “Condo Showcase”, that will raise
funds for the WV symphony.
Kelly is a former president of her home Pilot Club of Greater Kanawha
Valley and has been elected “Outstanding Pilot of the Year”
six times. She says, “You do make wonderful, lasting friends
in Pilot. And then, you have all the interesting choices of services.”
For 18 years, Kelly was a legislative analyst for the state senate,
reviewing bills for cost and working each session with senate committees
to save the state money. “I had always been interested in legislation
and I kept up with it, so when a job became open, I jumped at the
chance. It can be a magnificent obsession. So much is going on, it’s
hard to et away from it.” She retired from the job but hasn’t
lost her interest. She’s planning on running for delegate to
the Democratic convention.
For fun, Kelly likes to paint, sing and dance. “Originally,
I was interested in the theatre. I went to Drake Drama School and
then to Cambridge School of Radio and TV.” She was a part time
weather girl at NBC, though she went on to supervise guest relations.
“I still love New York.”
Kelly views her contributions to the innumerable organizations she
leads and participates in as a reflection of her values. “I’m
a family person. I care a lot about what I do. Spirituality is an
important in my life. I think we all want to do good work. Perhaps
we just need to be asked to do it.” There’s no shortage
of people and organizations that are happy to have her good work.
They have found Kelly often starts helping even before she’s
asked.
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